Modi, IMG threaten to sue ECB chief: report

May 10, 2010 17:00 IST

Suspended IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi and event management company IMG are planning to sue ECB chief Giles Clarke for alleging that they tried to start a 'rebel' Twenty20 league, according to a report in London.

"Pressure may start to mount on Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, after Lalit Modi joined IMG, the sports business group, in threatening legal action over claims that Modi, the IPL chairman, encouraged counties to form a breakaway event in England," a report in the The Times said.

Clarke had sent an e-mail to BCCI President Shashank Manohar detailing what he described as Modi's plan to "destroy English cricket."

The e-mail led to a second show cause notice being issued to Modi, who is already facing charges of financial misdemeanours in running the IPL like bid-rigging and taking kickbacks for TV and internet rights deal.

IMG, on its part, has denied being part of any plan to start a parallel Twenty20 league.

"It was stated by IMG and acknowledged by all present prior to this theoretical discussion that the sovereignty and processes of the ECB must at all times be respected as must the relevant rules of all other official bodies including ICC," the company had said in a statement.